Renting Homes (Wales) Act and Renters' Rights Act - Contract changes

From 1st June 2026, changes to the Renting Homes (Wales) Act — brought in by the UK Government's Renters' Rights Act — come into force for all social and private renters in Wales. Community Housing Cymru has been working with TPAS Cymru to help members navigate these changes. 

What is changing?

All occupation contracts must now include new fundamental terms that explicitly prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants on the basis of benefit claimancy or having children living with or visiting them. These terms will apply to all existing and new contracts — no tenant action is required to confirm them.

What does this mean in practice?

For most tenants, these changes will make little practical difference day to day. Social landlords are already committed to treating benefit claimants and families with children fairly. Where restrictions on children in a property currently exist for legitimate reasons — such as overcrowding, health and safety, the type of accommodation, or specialist housing provision — those restrictions are likely to remain in place under the new legislation, provided they constitute a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

Tenant communications

CHC and TPAS have produced further guidance on the changes, which was shaped by TPAS' tenant participation advisory group. 

We have also produced a plain-English tenant information sheet and FAQ, available on the CHC Housing Hub, which members are encouraged to share or adapt for their own newsletters, websites, and resident communications.